Ignition device.



J. M. EDWARDS.

IGNH'ION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29. 1917.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- five; 02 J'azzzea 1 5M749,

J. M. EDWARDS.

IGNITION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED maze. 1911.

1,289, 1 3 5., Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. \q

air-m I iii/A m w m 1% 3%? nnrrnn patina snip.

JAMES 1311. BET/YARDS, OF HATEELOO, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO ASSOCIATEDMANUFAC- QUBEZtS COMPANY, OF WATERLOO, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

IGNITION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

To alt whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that T, JAMES M. Enwanns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cedar Heights, i-Vaterloo, in the county of Blackhawk andState of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIgnition Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ignition devices, and has for one of its objectsthe provision of a simple and eflicient ignition producing device forinternal combustion engines, and the like. A further object being theprovision of'such a device which is capable of being quickly and easilyadjusted into and out of operative position on the internal cdmbustionengine as a single unit, and one which can be easily and quickly takenapart for repairs, or when desirable. Other objects will appearhereinafter.

An embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying rawings,forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of an ignition device embodying my invention shown as appliedto a portion of a cylinder wall of an internal combustion engine.

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the portion of the device which extends intothe cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a fragment of theinternal combustion engine being shown.

Figs. 3 and 4c are sections taken on line 33 and t e respectively ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmental section taken on line 5-5 of F ig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, T have shown a frame 10 ofsubstan tialiy inverted U-shape with a portion 11, which extends intothe cylinder 12 of the in ternal combustion engine, and a shelf 13, uponwhich a magneto 1% is mounted. The frame 10 is preferably formedhollowed or U-shapcd in order to provide an opening between portionsthereof for mounting the operating mechanism of the device. This frame10 is preferably formed with an opening 15; in its upper part in orderto provide access to part of the operating mechanism, and to make iteasy to adjust the magneto 14 into and out of position in the device. Afurther reason for providing the opening 1 5. is that it affords apassage for the electrical connection between the magneto and one of theelectrodes of the sparking device.

The portion 11 of the frame has a perforation therein, in which ismounted the fixed electrode 16, the latter being insulated from the part11 by means of insulation material 17, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1.The part 11 is also provided with a perforation forming a bearing for ashaft 18, which carries the movable electrode 19. The shaft 18 is notinsulated from the frame, butarranged to makeelectrical contacttherewith.- The shaft 18 has one of its ends journaled, as at 20, in aportion of the frame so that both of its ends are mounted in bearingsand providing space between such bearings for the operating mechanismmounted thereon. This arrangement prevents twisting of the shaft in itsbearings and gives longer life to the device.

The shaft 18 has its sides flattened, as at 21, for a short distance,and an arm 22 mounted on the shaft on said flattened portions 21. Thearm 22 has a portion thereof bifurcater'l, ])1'()Vl(lll l,g parts 23 and.l which are clamped on the flattened portions 21 of the shaft by meansof a screw 25. The portion 24: of the arm is provided with a recess 26,in which one end of a spring 27 is mounted. The other end of spring 27is mounted in the bore of a lug 28 formed on the frame 10. The lug 28 isneferably threaded in its bore, and a plug 29 screw-threaded therein sothat the spring 27 may be easily removed, when so desired, or may beadjusted to different compressions. It will be apparent that the spring27 holds the movable electrode 19 in engagement with the fixed electrode16 normally.

The magneto 14 is shown as a conventional magneto and has an oscillatoryrotor therein; the internal parts of the magneto are not shown,- sincethey are well known in the art. The rotor isof conventional constructionand mounted on a shaft 30 which extends through the opening 15 into thespace between the leg portions of the frame 10, as clearly indicated in.Figs. 1 and 4. On the end of shaft 30 is an arm 31 which is adapted tooperate the rotor of the magneto. The arm 31 is keyed, as at 32. orotherwise secured to the shaft.

Jonrnaled on the shaft 18 is an arm 33,

and this arm is connected by a connecting a link 34 to the arm 31 on therotor shaft, so

that the arm 33 will move with the arm 31and' rotor shaft 30 in both ofits directions of oscillation. The arm 33 is provided with a hub whichextends over a considerable portion of the shaft 18 between the legportions of the frame 10, so that the arm will have as much bearingsurface as possible on the shafts 18 to reduce wear to a minimum, and torender the device of sturdy construction. On the shaft 18, adjacent thebearing 20, is a collar 36, having a hub 37 extending toward the hub 35of arm 33, sothat the hubs 35 and 37 substantially cover the entireportion of the shaft between arm 3 3 and collar 36. A coil spring 38 iscoiled about the hubs 35 and 37 with one of its ends secured to thecollar 36, and its other end secured to a lug 39 on the hub of arm 33.The spring 38 tends to move the arm 33 in the opposite direction to thatwhich the spring 27 moves the arm 22. The spring 38, however, is of suchsize and arranged in such a manner that it exerts less force than thespring 27, sothat the spring 27 normally maintains the electrodes incontact. It will be noted that the collar 36 is rigidly secured to-theshaft 18, such as by a pin 40, shown in Fig. 1.

The arm 33 is provided with a shoulder 41 which extends laterally of thearm into the path of the movement of arm 22. An adjustable connection isprovided between arm and shoulder 41, which in the present instance,comprises a screw 42 threaded in the arm 22 and engaging the shoulderi1. A lock nut 43 is provided on the screw to hold the latter in itsdifferent positions of adjustment so that the relative positions of arms22 and 33 may be varied, when so desired, to change the relation of thesparking of the electrodes with the rotation of the engine.

The arm 33 is provided with a trip finger H which extends downwardlyinto the path of a reciprocatory member the latter being driven by theinternal combustion engine; the connection between the member 45 and theengine not being shown, since its connection is obvious. The member 45is pivotally mounted on a bar 4:6, and has a portion engaging a shoulder-t7 on the bar t6, so that when the bar 46 moves in the direction of thearrow 48, the member +5 moves the trip finger 4:4 to bring the rotor tococking position. When the member 45 passes under the trip finger, thespring 38 moves the rotor through its operative stroke to produceanelectrical current. The member 45 is pivoted to the bar 46, so thatupon -its movement in the: opposite direction to that indicated by arrow48, it will move on its pivotal point and slide under the trip finger 44into position for the next operation' of the ignition device. Themeans". shown for operating the trip finger may be changed in anydesired manner.

The fixed electrode is connected by means of a connection 49 with themagneto 14 to form'one side of the electrical circuit. The other side ofthe electrical circuit passes from the frame of the magneto through theframe 10, shaft 18, and movable electrode 19 to the fixed electrode 16.In the operation of the device, the trip finger is moved to bring therotor to cocking position,. and when the trip finger is'released, thespring 38 moves the arm 33, rotor, and parts connected between said armand rotor, to cause a. current to be formed in the magneto 14. Thestrength of spring 38, together with the momentum of arm 33, the rotorof the magneto, and the parts connected between said arm and rotorovercomes the strength of spring 27 and momentarily separates theelectrodes 19 and 16. This separation of the electrodes is timed so thatit occurs when the maximum current is produced in the' magneto 14. Sincethe spring 27 exerts normally more force on the connection between themovable electrode and magneto than the spring 38, as soon as themomentum of the parts operated directly upon by the spring 38 has beenovercome, said spring 27 will again close the electrodes and bring therotor of the magneto again to its normal position ready for the nextoperation of the device.

I have provided a simple means for rendering the ignition deviceinoperative, thereby providing a simple means for stopping the internalcombustion engine to which the device is applied. This device consistsof a lever 50, pivoted as at 51, to a projection 52 on a movable portionof the frame 10, see Figs. 1 and 4. The lever 50 is provided with an arm53 having a notch adapted to engage an arm 54 mounted on shaft 30, orformed integrally with arm 31, see Figs. 1 and 4. The arrangement ofthis part of the device is such that when the internal combustion engineis running, the lever 50 with its arm 53 is moved to its dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the notch portion of arm 53 catchesthe arm 54:, and prevents the rotor from passing through its part ofmovement, forming the current in the mag i in raeaiee the preferred formof my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the precise detailsset forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and changes ascome within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 2-- 1. In combination, a field magnet; a rotor mounted in thefield magnet; a fixed electrode; a movable electrode; an operativeconnection between the rotor and movable electrode; a spring operatingon said connection and normally holding the electrodes together; and aspring operating on said connection with relatively less force than thefirst-mentioned spring and tending to separate the electrodes.

2. In combination, a field magnet; a rotor mounted for oscillationtherein; a fixed electrode; a shaft; a movable electrode fixed on saidshaft; an arm pivoted on said shaft and connected to move with therotor; an arm fixed on said shaft and having an operative connectionwith the arm pivoted on said shaft; a spring operating on the arm fixedon said shaft normally holding the electrodes together; and a springoperating on the arm pivoted on said shaft and tending to separate theelectrodes.

3. In combination, a field magnet; a rotor mounted for oscillationtherein; a fixed electrode; a movable electrode; an arm on the movableelectrode; a spring normally holding the electrodes together; an armconnected with the rotor; and a spring normally pressing thesecond-mentioned arm againstthe first-mentioned arm and exertingforce onthe movable electrode tending to separate the electrodes, thesecond-mentioned spring normally exerting relatively less force on themovable electrode than the firstmentioned spring.

i. In combination, a frame; a field magnet mounted on the frame; a rotormounted the field magnet; a fixed electrode mounted on the frame; ashaft journaled in the frame; a movable electrode fixed on the shaft; aspring having one end connected to said frame and its other endconnected with said shaft operatingon the latter to hold the electrodestogether; an arm fixed on the shaft; an arm journaled on the shaft andconnected with the rotor to move therewith;

' and a spring operating on the second-mentioned arm normally holdingthe latter against the first-mentioned arm for holding the rotor innormal position.

-5. In combination, a frame having two spaced portions: a shaftextending between and journaled in both of said portions of the frame; afield magnet on the frame; a rotor mounted in the field ,magnet; a fixedelectrode mounted in the frame; a movable electrode fixed on the shaft;an arm fixed on the shaft between said portions of the frame; an armjonrnaled on the shaft between said portions of the frame and connectedwith the rotor; a spring connected between the frame and the arm fixedon said shaft normally holding the electrodes together; and a springconnected to the arm journaled on the shaft and adapted to hold thelast-mentioned arm against the firstmentioned arm for holding the rotorin normal position.

6. In combination, an inverted U-shaped frame; an integral part on oneleg portion of the frame adapted to extend into the combustion space ofan internal combustion engine; an integral shelf on the other legportion of the frame; a shaft extending between and journaled in the legportions of the frame; a fixed electrode mounted in the frame; a movableelectrode fixed on said shaft; a magneto on the shelf having a rotorshaft extending into the space between the leg portions of the frame; anoperative con-Q nection between the rotor shaft and said first-mentionedshaft disposed. between the leg portions of said frame; a spring oper'ated on a part of said connection normally holding the electrodestogether; and a spring of relatively less tension thanthefirst-mentioned spring operating upon said connection and holding therotor. shaft in normal position.

7. In combination, a field magnet; a rotor mounted in the field-magnet;a fixed electrode; a movable electrode; an operative connection betweenthe rotor and movable electrode; a spring operating on said connectionnormally holding the electrodes together, means for varying theeffective strength of said spring; and a spring operating on saidconnection with relatively less forcethan the first-mentionedspringtending to separate the electrodes.

8. In combination, a current generator including an oscillatory rotoradapted to produce an electrical currentduring one direction of itstravel; engine-operated means connected with the rotor for moving thelat ter to the beginning of its current-producing movement; means forquickly moving the rotor through its current-producing move ment; andmeans for arresting the action of said "first-mentioned means on therotor at the beginning of the current producing movement of the latter.

9. In combination, a current generator including a rotor; anengine-driven means for moving the rotor to cooking position; a

spring adapted to -m0ve the rotor from cocking position through itseffective current-producing movement; an arm on .the

11. In combination, a frame; a fixed electrode; a shaft journaled in theframe; a movable electrode carried on the shaft; an arm fixed on theshaft; an extension on said arm; a perforated lug on the frame; a springin the perforation of said lug and engaging said extension; a plugadjustably. threaded in the lug and adapted to vary the effective forceof the spring; an arm journaled on said shaft; and a spring connectedwith the shaft and the last-mentioned arm holding the latter normallyagainst the first-mentioned arm.

12. In combination, a frame having its central portion made up of twosubstan-' tially evenly spaced inverted U-shaped parts joined togetherat their ends; asupporting lug on one end of the frame; a shelf at theother end of the frame; a magneto on said shelf; a fixed electrode.mounted in and insu lated from said frame; a conductor connecting thefixed electrode with the magneto and having a portion thereof extendingbetween the U-shaped parts of the frame; a movable electrode journaledon the frame; and an operable connection between the magneto and movableelectrode.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on thisth day of January, A. D. 1917.

JAMES M. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

H. B. PLUMB, JAS. M. HUBBARD, A. M. MEADER.

